Chapter 4: Patchwork Foes
（Master, here I go!）
『All right!』
Fran dashed toward the undead. She was planning to engage them with her sword instead of magic.
For now, it seemed like she wanted to test the waters in close combat. She probably also wanted to check on my condition since I had just been resurrected.
The panic that had overwhelmed me earlier was no longer present, and they were fully prepared for battle. However, I myself wasn't sure if I had fully recovered.
『Appraisal on them!』
I used Appraisal on the patched-up demon with red-black skin, and its name was displayed as "Patched-Up No. 1." It seemed to possess Appraisal interference abilities, but at this level, I could bypass it with my Clairvoyance.
It was definitely a power-type fighter. It had nearly 1000 in physical strength and possessed Hammer Saint Arts. Moreover, it had high-level skills like Instant Regeneration, Instant Activation, and Evasion. On top of that, it even had a unique skill.
「Raaaaaahhh!」
No. 1 swung its club and charged toward us. The club used by this monstrous undead resembled a spine from a giant creature with a demon skull attached to it.
It had tremendous power, but Fran didn't panic and stepped forward.
「I won't lose anymore!」
She slipped past the bone club and slashed at No. 1 as they passed each other.
Despite being blocked by a strong barrier and thick muscles, she managed to cut halfway through its arm. However, No. 1 showed no signs of pain and immediately regenerated the wound.
Since they were undead, they didn't feel pain, but their regenerative abilities were likely on par with their summoner, Al-Ajif. The tactic of countering while taking hits seemed to be identical to Al-Ajif's.
In fact, No. 1 seemed even tougher and faster, making its combat capabilities appear higher. Al-Ajif had summoned this trump card at the cost of reducing her own power.
This time, Fran took the initiative.
She ran forward, leaning so far forward that it looked like she was gliding on the ground, and swiftly circled around No. 1 in an arc. She must have judged that we had the advantage in terms of maneuverability. Indeed, with a massive body like an ogre, it couldn't keep up with Fran's swift movements.
Then, Fran circled around to the back of No. 1, which allowed her to aim her strike at its legs.
It would probably regenerate right away, but any disruption to its posture would be welcome.
However, No. 1 responded to Fran's attack in an unexpected way.
「Gu!」
『Is that giant pulling acrobatics now?』
Using the bone club as support, it propelled its massive body into the air like a pole vaulter.
Having dodged Fran's strike, No. 1 landed on the ground silently, readying its club as if nothing had happened.
「...Grr!」
「...Gu.」
They halted and stared each other down, No. 1 and Fran.
Did No. 1 acknowledge Fran as a formidable opponent? Its face, covered in stitched-together pieces, cracked into a sly grin.
It seemed that while it couldn't speak, it possessed clear intelligence and cognitive abilities. Furthermore, it appeared to have emotions, including the kind of fierce grin we had seen during Fran's simulated battles. Combined with its original appearance, it was a truly imposing sight.
Fran, on the other hand, deepened her focus. She seemed to have forgotten any confusion, regret, or fear and was now completely concentrated on the battle against this formidable opponent.
「That's right!」
「Gu!」
『How about this!』
While Fran engaged in close combat, I cast Thunder Magic and Flame Magic.
These were lower-level spells meant as a warm-up, but I didn't expect them to have no effect at all. No. 1's defensive barrier turned out to be thicker and tougher than we had anticipated.
Nevertheless, our advantage remained unchanged now that we had regained our composure.
『Fran! Prepare for something big! Keep it distracted!』
（Got it!）
Fran continued to move rapidly, sticking to No. 1 while drawing its attention. From an angle completely invisible to No. 1, I launched Flame Magic at its back.
「Gaaahhh!」
I put more magic power into the attack than usual. Despite No. 1's high defense, it couldn't withstand this assault. A large hole was created in its back.
While it would regenerate quickly, if we continued to chip away at its magical energy with repeated attacks, we would eventually defeat it. This was one of the correct ways to deal with high-level undead.
There was also a method to destroy its core, but...
〈The core's location is concealed.〉
『That's right.』
Since it was the most critical part, its concealment was also being taken care of to the fullest extent. Amidst the rapidly changing battles, finding its precise weak point was proving difficult.
『We'll have to take it down bit by bit.』
（Understood.）
It seemed like Jean and the others were also fighting hard. We couldn't afford to lose!
「Hahaha! Your summoning speed is impressive, but that kind of force won't be a shield!」
「Grr... Lulu... Aaahhh!」
Jean and Patched-Up No. 2 were engaged in a summoning battle, keeping their distance.
Patched-Up No. 2 resembled a massive lion, but its combat method involved summoning a horde of undead. Despite its brute appearance, it seemed to act as a rear-guard. Numerous magic circles were etched onto its body, allowing it to summon its minions rapidly.
However, Jean's summoning speed was no less impressive. The bone spear he wielded also served as a staff, allowing him to call forth a legion of skeletons effortlessly. Moreover, he joined the battle himself and took down some of No. 2's summoned zombies.
With the summoner actively participating in the battle, Jean's skeletons gradually began to overpower No. 2's zombie horde.
「Undead Boost! Skeletons, keep pushing forward!」
「「「Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter!」」」
Thanks to Jean's Necromancer-enhancement magic, the skeletons were enveloped in a bluish-purple light. With their increased attack power, the skeletons began to vigorously eliminate the zombies.
Kune and Patchwork Number Three's battle was more intense than Jean and the others'.
「Nya-nya-nya-nya-nya!」
「Roarrrrr!」
They both shouted as they ran around the battlefield, exchanging attacks. While Kune focused on defense, they steadily accumulated damage with their ice-clad magic sword.
Centipede Woman, Patchwork Number Three, unleashed a barrage of poisonous attacks. She fired venomous bullets and swung a spear made of condensed poison while her giant centipede body allowed for coiling and charging attacks, which must have been devastating.
However, Kune maintained a hit-and-run strategy, preventing Three from using her massive body to its full advantage. Additionally, he guided her away from Fran and the others, ensuring her attacks didn't head in their direction. It was a smart move.
The aftermath of Three's movement left the surroundings in chaos. Thick trees in the middle layer of the forest were toppled one after another.
While dodging such attacks by a hair's breadth, Kune continued to attack the giant body with his sword, showing remarkable determination.
「Nyaa! Moonlight Triple Slash, Nya!」
「Roooarrr!」
As time passed, the battle turned increasingly in Kune's favor. The effect of Kune's ice-crafted magic sword began to freeze Three's body gradually.
The memory of an undead creature similar to Three, which I possessed from the other side, seemed to be effective here as well. Three had no resistance to ice and snow-based attacks, and the frozen areas remained covered in frost indefinitely.
Being undead meant their body temperature didn't rise no matter how much they moved, which was fatal. Without a means to thaw, there was nothing they could do. When flesh and joints froze, it affected their mobility, and as those areas increased, their overall movement gradually deteriorated.
Their movements were visibly slowing down.
Urushi, who was battling against Al-Ajif, was also giving it his all. Although his movements had slowed, the scythe's strikes were still deadly. A direct hit would likely be disastrous.
However, Urushi continued to engage Al-Ajif at close range, preventing him from intervening in our battle. He disrupted Al-Ajif's concentration and kept him from providing magical support or other assistance.
Additionally, Urushi probably intended to prevent Al-Ajif from escaping. In the worst-case scenario, Al-Ajif might abandon his subordinates and attempt to flee using teleportation, which he was capable of.
But as long as Urushi kept up his close-range attacks, Al-Ajif wouldn't be able to concentrate on using teleportation effectively. Teleportation was a complex spell that couldn't be cast instantly without focus. Given that Urushi was skilled in Shadow Teleportation himself, he likely knew how to disrupt it effectively.
「This damn dog! Don't get in my way! Come on!」
「Woof!」
「Not 'woof'! Aaargh! You broke a piece off! What's with those fangs?」
「Woof, woof!」
Al-Ajif was getting increasingly frustrated.
However, Al-Ajif wasn't just being disrupted; he also didn't like that Urushi's attacks were causing harm to his main body.
Urushi possessed a skill called "Dimensional Fang." This skill allowed him to partially bypass an opponent's defense and deal damage directly to their main body. Furthermore, Urushi's jaws had enough strength to crush even orichalcum, even without using the skill.
When combined with the skill, no matter how tough Al-Ajif's main body was, it couldn't remain unscathed.
Perhaps this was the first time that his main body had been directly injured. Al-Ajif's frustration was so intense that it seemed plausible.
「I'll kill you! I'll tear that scythe to shreds!」
「Woof!」
「Disappear—」
「Woof!」
「Guaah!」
While interfering with the opponent's teleportation, Urushi was prepared to use teleportation at any moment himself. He evaded the relentless scythe attacks with teleportation, emerging from the opponent's shadow to counter-attack.
Al-Ajif, who had been knocked to the ground by Urushi's tail, let out a scream filled with humiliation.
In this battle, Urushi clearly had the upper hand.
As I watched my companions' battles, something abnormal happened to one of them, One.
「Aaaargh!」
『What? Fran, his magical power is surging within his body!』
「His eyes are glowing.」
Although it initially seemed like an evenly matched battle, it was gradually turning into a situation where he was weakening over time. Recognizing this precarious situation, he likely decided to use his trump card.
『There's a possibility of a psychic ability or an entangling technique. Don't let your guard down.』
（Got it.）
A crimson-black magic enveloped One's muscular body, significantly enhancing his presence. It was clear that he had been powered up, and to an extraordinary degree.
「Aaaargh!」
「Ugh!」
『He's fast!』
The powered-up One was surprisingly fast.
His charging speed had almost doubled. Simultaneously, his physical strength had likely skyrocketed. With increased speed and strength, the impact of his attacks would naturally become even more formidable.
One's bone staff barely grazed Fran's arm, yet it snapped in half.
Then, it proceeded to crush the rocks behind her. A direct hit might be enough to kill even a dragon.
Although Fran could quickly heal herself with magic, this might have been the first time in this battle that she had suffered such significant damage.
But that wasn't the end of One's enhancements.
「Hmm, dodged it.」
『He's reading us perfectly.』
Fran attacked from behind, but One evaded her thrust with a graceful turn, as if he could see everything clearly. He moved with minimal effort, making a precise dodge while positioning himself to counter-attack.
Fran was undoubtedly awakened now, using Brilliant Lightning Rush. Combined with her skills and magical enhancements, her top speed was likely reaching godlike levels. It was the kind of speed differential that would make an ordinary person's movements appear in slow motion. And now, with One's current state, Fran's every move was entirely visible to him.
Is it the effect of those glowing eyes? It seems that it's not magic eyes or evil eyes but rather an extension of body enhancement that strengthens his vision. That's why it's challenging to deal with. I mean, I even tried to use flash attacks to blind him, but it had no effect at all.
It's not an entangling technique; it's quite the opposite.
His eyes are greatly enhanced, and his physical abilities are elevated simultaneously. It's a straightforward yet effective power-up, characterized by a mindset like, "I don't need any tricks; I'll crush you head-on!" Dealing with it is difficult.
With a roar as if it were a change from defense to offense, One charges forward. Fran confronts his massive form head-on.
「Aaaargh!」
「Hah!」
While supporting Fran, I monitor my companions' battles with divided attention. If things look dangerous, I have to provide immediate assistance.
The battle between Jean and Two was transitioning into a new phase.
「Gaooh!」
「I see, you've figured out my trick!」
Just when it seemed like Two's roar had resonated, Jean's movements drastically slowed down. His proficiency in wielding the spear had plummeted to a level resembling that of an amateur. The lethal thrust that had been like a flash just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
Not only was his speed affected, but the quality of his techniques had changed. Jean's current thrust was simply extending the tip forward relying on sheer strength. With no doubt, his opponent wouldn't overlook this vulnerability. Zombies in the vicinity, ignoring the skeletons, had immediately gathered around Jean. Simultaneously, magic flowed from Two towards the zombies. It was an enormous amount of magic, enough to visibly deplete Two's magic power.
「This is not good!」
The zombies, along with the surrounding skeletons, exploded simultaneously. They unleashed a massive explosion by making their magic run wild, resulting in the complete annihilation of the nearby skeletons.
Despite being a little distant, the shockwave reached our location.
When the flames subsided, there stood Jean, stripped of his robe and bearing injuries all over his body. It didn't render him completely incapable of fighting, but it was quite a bit of damage.
It seemed that the bone armor he had worn, like a suit of armor made of bones, had saved him from fatal wounds. The armor had areas charred and looked on the brink of disintegration.
However, Jean remained surprisingly composed.
「Hmm, I see. Spiritual Resonance, huh? It's an interesting skill. Even my subordinates couldn't escape its influence. You did well. Rest for now.」
While analyzing Two's abilities, Jean stroked the partially damaged bone armor. Then, the armor turned into particles of light and disappeared. It appeared that the bone armor had been one of Jean's undead subordinates.
The abilities were related to spear techniques and skills. Yes, the spear techniques Jean had used weren't something he had personally learned. He had been receiving assistance by wearing the bone armor of an undead skilled in wielding spears. It was a sort of powered suit concept.
Two had noticed this and was dealing with it accordingly.
The skill called "Spiritual Resonance" seems to allow one to connect with and control the magical power of other undead, assimilating it. It appears they also share the impact and wounds, making it quite a challenging skill to use. However, if it's just undead resonating with other undead, pain doesn't matter, and they can synchronize even more deeply, especially when they share the same fate. This is what allowed Jean to influence the undead under his control and even stop their movements.
Seeing Jean lose both his spear techniques and armor, Two contorts his lion-like mouth into what seems like a smile. It appears he's convinced of his own superiority.
It's not the berserker-like grin of One; it's a sinister smile that seems to convey the inner wickedness, unlike any other.
「GruLulu!」
「Hmm, finding pleasure in battle even as a beast, huh? Interesting!」
「Gru, Gru?」
But Jean is still Jean. Even in such a situation, he finds something intriguing, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He has the gaze of a research fanatic.
Although Two takes a step back as if overwhelmed, he immediately returns Jean's fierce glare with an expression of anger. Even though he should have the upper hand, he must have been frustrated by Jean's complete lack of fear.
Seeing Two like that only raises Jean's excitement further.
「Oh! You seem quite irritated! Truly human-like thinking!」
「Gwooo!」
It seems Two realized that engaging in a conversation with Jean further would only disrupt his rhythm. Ignoring Jean, he starts creating new zombies. It appears his strategy now is to overwhelm Jean, who has lost his means of attack, with sheer numbers.
With a slight sway of his massive body, Two steps forward. Since Jean has lost his spear, he might have thought it was safe to engage in close combat?
The encirclement tightens. Two, appearing almost human-like, lets out a "Guffaw" and laughter.
Jean, now alone and heavily injured, couldn't summon skeletons in time to support him. On the other hand, Two hasn't suffered significant damage due to magic expenditure and is protected by his ten zombie underlings. It might seem like a clear difference in power, signaling his victory.
However, Jean continues to smile.
「Hahaha! It seems I've given you the wrong impression!」
「G-Gaw?」
「As you can see, I am a necromancer! Fighting with a spear was simply a test of my new subordinate's abilities!」
Jean shouts this and spreads his hands wide.
「In apology for making you think I was pushed to the brink, I'll show you my true power!」
「G-Gaaah!」
「It's futile.」
「G? Gaaah!」
To dispose of Jean, Two roars to incite the zombies. However, the zombies move slowly, as if they were barely able to walk. The zombies Two had controlled had moved just like ordinary people moments ago. But now, they were moving no differently from lower-tier, sluggish zombies.
「Influencing the opponent's subordinates isn't an exclusive privilege reserved for you.」
It seems Jean had used necromantic spells to slow down the zombies' movements.
「G, GruLulu!」
「Look, what's the matter? At this point, you have no choice but to attack with your own claws and fangs, right? Are your magnificent body, claws, and fangs just for show? Against a necromancer who's unarmed, what are you hesitating for?」
With his arms outstretched, Jean seemed to be inviting Two to jump into his chest, emphasizing that he was unarmed.
「Gru...」
Provoked, Two let out a growl with an indescribable expression. He seemed to be a mixture of anger, impatience, and suspicion.
It's true that Jean's offer appears to be a chance, but it also looks like a trap. However, it seems Jean is making Two believe that while actually buying some time.
「Gruuu... Gaaaah!」
「Hahaha! That's the spirit!」
Finally, Two pounced on Jean.
His movements were agile, much like that of a lion.
However, it was still a trap set by Jean.
「Apologies! The claim of being unarmed was a lie!」
「G-Guh...」
Suddenly, the leather belt around Jean's waist began to move. Leather originally comes from animals, so it could also serve as a material for the undead.
The belt-shaped undead quickly rebounded Two's forelimbs with snake-like agility.
「Well done, Ray! And come forth, Remmy!」
It seems Jean had kept the summoning spell active while fighting. A magical circle appeared between Jean and Two, and something jumped out of it.
*Buzzzz!*
Hovering with a tremendous buzzing sound was a massive bee-like creature, almost the size of a large dog. Moreover, its body was covered in bones. It appeared as though the bee had been encased in a skeletal armor.
Although it looked like an ordinary bee-type magical beast, there was no way an undead under Jean's command would be ordinary.
As expected, its next action was something that would astound everyone.
Instead of attacking Two, who was right in front of it, the creature leaped over Two's massive body and attacked the zombie behind him. It used its six legs to firmly grasp the zombie's body and then pierced it with its thick stinger. What it injected into the zombie's head wasn't poison but magic.
A purplish-red magical energy flowed into the zombie's interior. This whole process took only a few seconds.
Then, the eyes of the zombie attacked by Remmy began to shine with a purplish-red light.
And in the next moment, that zombie exploded right on the spot.
「Gaaaa!」
「It's a tactic against undead that exploits the instability of their magic power! Success!」
The massive explosion that occurred right in front of them sent Two flying, and Jean had to lower his posture to withstand it. It was a tremendous explosion.
It was quite similar to the zombie's special attack that Two had executed earlier. Perhaps Remmy's infused magic power had caused the magic power within the zombie to go haywire, resulting in the explosion. Since it utilized the opponent's magic power, Remmy herself didn't need to use much of her own. In essence, it was as if the explosives were already within the opponent, and she just ignited them using a small amount of gunpowder.
「Gaaaaah!」
*Buzzzz!*
As Jean's raucous laughter filled the air, a roar from Two, sounding like a scream of agony, echoed. Remmy clung to his back, attempting to send magical power into him. He was probably terrified after witnessing the fate of his subordinates.
He concentrated his own magical power at the spot where Remmy had pierced him, desperately trying to prevent the magical power from being infused. While Remmy's abilities were potent, her individual abilities weren't particularly high. It seemed challenging to send magical power into Two, a high-level undead, when he focused on defense.
However, Remmy's role appeared to have been fulfilled.
「Enhancing one's strategic possibilities with intelligence can also lead to cowardice when fear takes over, huh? I've learned something today.」
「Guh?」
While Two was completely distracted by Remmy, Jean had completed his final preparations. It had been a perfect decoy.
「Well done, Remmy. Thanks to you, we've won.」
For a brief moment, Two looked puzzled at Jean's words, but he soon realized their meaning. He frantically tried to put some distance between himself and Jean, but instead, he collapsed right there.
「The 'Cradle of the Abyss' is now active!」
The skull pendant that Jean had been wearing around his neck emitted a brilliant light. Simultaneously, an eerie sound emanated from the skull, something indescribable.
Oooooh!
It sounded like a song and a moan of agony at the same time, a bizarre sound.
It was familiar. It was the same sound emitted when Jean used the Abyss King's Blessing, a staff that forcibly ascends the undead but drains the caster's life force.
「Yes, it's working quite well!」
Jean didn't seem to be suffering. Perhaps he was avoiding the recoil of the Abyss King's Blessing by using the skull pendant.
Deprived of his power by the Cradle of the Abyss, Two couldn't move from his spot.
「The expected effect hasn't fully manifested, but this should be enough for now! Don't worry; it won't be painful.」
「Guh...」
Two struggled to escape but to no avail.
「Rest in peace! Ascension!」
A soul-soothing spell that sends the undead to the heavens.
「Gaaaaaaah!」
Was it a scream? No, it was a roar of joy.
Two left behind a triumphant cry that resonated throughout the magical realm and crumbled like sand.
「Rest peacefully, pitiable undead.」
Kune wore an expression of anxiety as she continued to battle Three with her patched-up ice sword.
She swung her ice magic blade desperately, but the gigantic centipede woman, boasting infinite stamina, was gradually wearing her down.
「Nya! It's cold, nya! So cold, nya!」
Well, the battle was still heavily in Kune's favor.
Nearly half of the centipede's lower body was encased in ice, severely slowing her movements. With that, Kune was hardly falling behind.
The only thing to be cautious of was the occasional poison projectile she fired. However, it couldn't penetrate Kune's barrier, and Three was currently at an impasse.
Yet, the reason Kune was anxious was that she too was exposed to the cold.
Normal magical swords don't harm their users with their abilities. For example, the Flame Sword doesn't burn its wielder, and the Wind Sword doesn't cut the user.
However, it seemed that this magical sword was different. Whether Kune hadn't been formally recognized or the sword's power was too overwhelming for her to control was uncertain.
In any case, the surroundings, as well as Kune herself, grew colder to the point where their breaths turned white, and their lips began to lose color. Fran was the same, but Black Catkin weren't known for their resistance to cold; if anything, they were weak to it.
「Huff, huff... My breath is so cold, it's not warming me up at all, nya!」
Kune tried to warm her numbed hands by blowing on them, but it seemed to be futile.
Though she didn't appear desperate due to her lack of seriousness, the situation was surprisingly dangerous.
After all, Three was still mobile. If Kune's movements slowed due to the cold, there might be a chance, albeit a slim one. In fact, Kune was beginning to succumb to the cold to the point where she feared it.
Furthermore, an unexpected situation occurred, even for me.
「Aaaaaaaah!」
「Ugh! He's chopping off his own lower half, nya!」
Surprisingly, Three thrust the poisoned sword into his lower abdomen, forcibly severing the lower half of his centipede body. It wasn't a pre-existing ability like self-amputation; it was raw power that allowed him to cut himself apart.
The patched-up upper body of the woman, covered in seams, fell to the ground and convulsed while bleeding profusely from the severed waist.
Although there were openings everywhere, Kune couldn't attack.
Just as the centipede's part began to liquefy and melt, it suddenly exploded, spraying its bodily fluids in all directions. It was a rain of acid and poison.
「Nyaaa! It's stinky, nya!」
While Kune protected herself with Moonlight Magic, Three moved across the ground with his arms only. It was like the movements of a cockroach.
「Aaaaaah!」
「He's growing it back, nya!」
As Kune shouted, the severed part of Three's body swelled significantly, and a new lower half grew from there. The grotesque sight of the centipede's torso being regenerated at an astonishing speed was disturbing enough to drive someone with arachnophobia insane.
Then, Three got up. It had all happened in just a few seconds.
Admittedly, it wasn't the same colossal body that had exceeded ten meters earlier, but it was still about four meters tall. If it moved swiftly, it was more than enough. It had essentially reset.
Shouldn't we lend her a hand?
However, Kune seemed to be more resourceful than we had imagined.
「There's no choice, nya. Doing this will make me ache all over later, but it's better than dying, nya!」
「Aaaaaaah!」
「Shut up, nya! Miss Centipede! Your doing this guarantees your body will break into pieces, nya! I'll apologize when you're dead, nya!」
No, she's already dead!
With a determined expression, Kune readied her magic sword and distanced herself from Three unexpectedly, leaving her open to attack.
Could it be that her ultimate move takes time to charge?
Three seemed to think so too, as he stepped forward to prevent Kune from executing her ultimate move. Thanks to the newly created sections from freezing and numbing, his speed approached the initial super-fast rate.
However, while elegantly avoiding the charge, Kune continued chanting. Yes, her ultimate move seemed to be magic, not swordsmanship.
Chanting while moving at high speed is an essential skill for magic warriors like Kune and Fran. Three's poison attacks were easily evaded, and Kune completed her spell.
「Nyow! Moonlight Magic, Moon Diver, nya!」
The moment she shouted, Kune's body was enveloped in a mysterious pale-blue light resembling moonlight.
No, Kune wasn't the only one undergoing a change. Three was also shrouded in an ominous red light. Was this spell affecting both the caster and the target?
「Unyananyanyaa!」
「Huh?」
Kune's figure disappeared.
No, it didn't just disappear; it moved incredibly swiftly.
While Kune had been naturally fast, her current movements would rival Fran when she was giving her all. And not only that, Three's movements were clearly sluggish. It wasn't just slow; it was sluggish. It was as if time had slowed down.
Most likely, that was the case. While I wasn't certain about what Moonlight Magic could do, the Moon Diver spell seemed to accelerate the user's time and slow down the enemy's speed.
I thought of it as a combination of Time Space Magic's Quick and Slow. If Moonlight Magic had a connection to the temporal attribute, considering that it governed the waxing and waning of the moon, it wouldn't be surprising for there to be a spell affecting the flow of time.
「Unyananyanyanyanyanyanyanya!」
Moving at a super-high speed that left afterimages, Kune continued to strike Three's body with slashes.
Approximately five seconds after activation, the light enveloping both Kune and Three disappeared.
「Agh, guh...!」
「Nya wins, nya!」
In the battlefield where blue and red lights had vanished, Kune raised both fists triumphantly, while Three's remains were covered in frost and lacerations.
「Heheh! I'm the best after all, nya! Ouch, the muscle pain's already setting in, nya! It hurts, nya!」
Well, muscle pain won't kill her.
「Ooooooh!」
Each time Fran dodged One's attacks, a massive crater was created, and trees were mowed down. Even without a direct hit, the aftermath alone threatened to disrupt her balance, and as she held her ground, her durability diminished.
In contrast, it was difficult to just parry his attacks. Blocking alone significantly depleted my durability, and Fran's arm was tingling.
Furthermore, our attacks were instantly regenerated. And as time passed, a more troubling situation unfolded.
『Fran. Can you tell that his magic power is gradually increasing?』
（Yes. It's sucking in magic from the surroundings.）
『Yeah. He's absorbing the magic flowing through this magic realm.』
In other words, as time passed, One was getting stronger.
This was the effect of a unique skill called "Sengoku Oni."
According to my memories, it was a skill acquired by oni with a unique mutation, and it seemed to be quite a troublesome and powerful skill.
As One had been practicing, it was clear that he had the ability to absorb magic from his surroundings. However, unlike magic power theft, it didn't affect Fran or me.
Sengoku Oni allowed its user to absorb magic only from the land and nearby nature. But if the land was rich in magic, it could obtain a tremendous amount of magic power, several times more than magic power theft.
In a place like this, where magic power was dense, the effect was beyond unreasonable.
Of course, it wasn't without its drawbacks.
（(That guy, he's been acting strange.）
『Seems like his rationality is starting to disappear.』
As the enhancement progressed, the berserker-like expression he had shown earlier was fading away. The intellectual light that had been present in his eyes was clearly clouding over.
Sengoku Oni had the drawback of gradually diminishing one's rationality and consciousness, as it merged the user with nature.
（He's becoming more like Ashwrath.）
『Yeah.』
Ashwrath, the Rank S adventurer, had engaged in fratricidal battles. He struggled with the uncontrollable rampage skill, Kyoukika, and avoided social interactions.
The ability to enhance combat power in exchange for losing consciousness was somewhat similar to Ashwrath's Kyoukika. The key difference was that Ashwrath went berserk, while Sengoku Oni involved the loss of self-awareness.
If the rate of enhancement were similar, it might have been overwhelming for us, but...
『Fortunately, he's just started using it, so it's not like we can't win.』
（But he might get even stronger.）
With One continuously absorbing surrounding magic power, there was a non-zero possibility that he could become as powerful as Ashwrath, or perhaps even stronger. While he still surpassed us in terms of martial skill level, he was already falling behind in terms of physical strength and speed. If he got even stronger, he'd truly become uncontrollable.
Furthermore, in addition to the enhanced eyes and physical abilities, we needed to be cautious of another ability.
「Kwa!」
『Greater Heal!』
Fran's body was bent into an 'N' shape as if she had been struck by an invisible fist. In reality, she had been punched by an invisible fist.
One not only cloaked himself in magic power like armor but also transformed it into arms to manipulate. Moreover, his presence was concealed in such a way that detection was difficult. Under normal circumstances, we might not have noticed.
However, currently, the intense magic power emitted by One made it exceptionally challenging to perceive other magic power sources in the vicinity.
As a result, the invisible and elusive magic power fists gained an abnormal level of stealth.
It was clear that he was intentionally targeting us.
Although his thought process was dulling, his combat instincts remained intact. This aspect was similar to Ashwrath in his berserk state. Additionally, the technique of using magic power fists was reminiscent of a similar skill we had encountered.
（Colbert used a similar technique.）
『That's the Asura technique.』
As Fran mentioned, it was identical to the Asura technique that Colbert had used in the martial arts tournament. It compressed magic power to create four arms, a martial technique.
『That magic power—or rather, the Qi fists—are troublesome.』
If I recall correctly, when magic power was released externally, it was called magic power, but when used within the body or as a personal aura, it was referred to as Qi. What One was using now was likely Qi.
『Being faster than before and having more attacks... It's a problem.』
（Yes. Attacks coming from unseen places.）
He was strong. We, who should have grown up in the Belioth Kingdom, were being pushed to our limits. In this world, even when you think you've become stronger, formidable enemies keep appearing.
But that doesn't mean we can't handle it.
Being pushed to the brink had actually strengthened our resolve.
（Master, we have no choice but to fight.）
『...That's right. We have no choice but to fight.』
（(Hmm!）
Even as we were discussing our tactics, the Qi fist was unleashed. This was a lure. By deliberately releasing his concealment, he was trying to draw our attention.
Amidst the presence of this fist, he intended to strike with a concealed attack once we had thrown off our balance.
As the concealed strike came in when Fran was in an awkward position, a blow from the staff followed suit.
The fist was closing in. The choice between taking the hit or dodging had typically been a moment of hesitation.
However, Fran didn't evade.
With no sign of avoiding the attack whatsoever, Fran surprised One with her lack of reaction. After all, there was no way that Fran couldn't see the feigned fist. Nevertheless, she charged forward as if she couldn't see it at all.
However, he couldn't retract the attack aimed directly at her at this point. One continued his attack in confusion, and Fran's face was met with the Qi fist.
One's shock was palpable. His consciousness, which he had not completely lost, elicited a human-like response. He probably hadn't expected it to connect. However, One's astonishment didn't end there.
Certainly, Fran, who should have taken an attack to the face, calmly repelled One's staff with her own sword.
「Huh?」
One, whose staff had been deflected by me, lost his balance.
Seizing the opportunity, Fran unleashed a series of slashes.
While it wouldn't defeat him, it likely depleted a significant amount of his magic power.
One tried to create some distance to regroup, sending two Qi fists flying at Fran in an attempt to push her back.
For me, who had sensory skills operating at full capacity, it was visible. However, Fran didn't react to it. She didn't seem concerned and moved forward.
One probably thought that he had finally hit her this time.
However, Fran, despite the Qi fists that should have struck her torso, remained composed. Not only that, she effortlessly repelled the punches that should have been imbued with considerable power.
Astonished, One instinctively launched another punch with the Qi fist.
Whether she could see it or not, Fran completely ignored that punch as well.
The Qi fist struck her side, and for the third time, Fran treated One's attack as if it didn't exist.
It was as if she was nullifying it.
『Colbert's Asura is identical to this, so it can be defended against in the same way!』
（Hmm!）
Well, in reality, she was nullifying it.
We were using a skill called Physical Attack Nullification. True to its name, it nullified all physical attacks, making them damageless and impactless. Well, maybe calling it a cheat is a bit much.
The ability was frightening but very difficult to use.
Its biggest and only drawback was the massive consumption of magic power.
The Physical Attack Nullification skill originally belonged to higher-level slimes and mist-type monsters. It was an ability that came with a physical body.
Since we weren't suited for using this skill physically, we were using it by forcibly expending a large amount of magic power. As a result, the magic power consumption was abnormally high. Just blocking a few attacks from normal enemies could nearly halve our magic power.
In fact, due to the back-and-forth with One, my remaining magic power was less than thirty percent.
For Fran, who consumed magic power vigorously to compete with speed and agility, this skill that significantly depleted her magic power by merely blocking a few attacks was quite challenging to use. It was often better to aim for evasion through methods like teleportation rather than using this skill.
However, this time we used it to observe One up close. By leaving defense to the skill, we could focus on observation.
Our goal was to locate One's core.
Initially, we had planned to gradually wear him down over time. However, due to One's unexpected enhancement, it became difficult. We couldn't engage in a battle of endurance against One, who surpassed us in terms of stamina, stats, and regenerative abilities.
So, we had no choice but to stake everything, even if it meant sacrificing some magic power.
『I found it!』
There was a spot within One's body where magic power was faintly concentrated. He was concealing it, but we could barely sense it from this distance. This had to be the core. Let's confirm with Announcer-san!
『Announcer-san! Is that it without a doubt?』
〈〈Yes. There is a 4% possibility of it being a decoy.〉〉
Announcer-san gave her seal of approval!
『We've somehow found it!』
（Hmm! Master, please protect us.）
『Alright! Fran, give it your all!』
Even if her rationality had faded, I'm sure One understood that Fran was about to use her trump card. One became visibly cautious and distanced himself.
「Grrr…」
The intense battle, which had raged like a storm, abruptly stopped. Fran and One locked eyes.
「...」
「...」
Fran and One simultaneously concentrated their magic power and charged forward.
One chose not to retreat and attack because he probably understood the danger of the technique Fran was about to unleash. He anticipated that he might be defeated, so he decided to launch an attack first to crush her.
「Uwaaaaah!」
「Sword God Transformation!」
One had enveloped almost all his magic power into his physical body. This was an extreme enhancement that only an undead, capable of ignoring muscle ruptures and organ ruptures, could achieve. In terms of simple stats, he probably surpassed even a Rank S adventurer. Naturally, the attack he was about to unleash contained overwhelming power.
The magic power that caused cracks in the bone staff due to the speed that left sound behind. Furthermore, martial techniques were used to add impact to the attack.
Even a graze would be fatal. With such power, it could likely blow away the heavily protected gates of Kranzel Royal Capital's castle as if they were paper.
Perhaps, after this attack, One would vanish.
He was using all the magic power he had gained from his Unique Skill, and even the magic power he was currently absorbing from the environment was being poured into this attack. It was a desperate attack by an undead whose existence was driven by the mission's accomplishment.
A smile appeared on One's face.
Did the tiny remaining emotions inside him cause that smile?
How about that? Isn't it amazing? I win.
It was a smile like that of a young leader.
Maybe his mission didn't matter to him at all. Perhaps he just wanted to unleash his strongest attack before being defeated.
It was a laugh that felt out of place, yet it radiated purity.
Faced with an overwhelming attack that seemed to embody death and destruction, Fran smiled.
No, perhaps it was the God of Swords, who had swung down the sword, who was smiling?
Impressive that they had created such a powerful attack. Bravo. Splendid.
Returning the smile of admiration, I silently made my move.
In that instant, One's club slightly deviated from its trajectory, as if avoiding Fran.
What I did was simple.
I aligned my weapon with the enemy's weapon, which was swung down at us, to shift its trajectory. That's all there was to it.
However, could both the opponent and I perform such a maneuver at godlike speed? It was indeed the work of a Sword God.
Moreover, my weapon, rebounded by striking the opponent's weapon, was swung back by me with its momentum, beheading One. Furthermore, I thrust myself into One's chest.
It wasn't just a divine attribute attack that was fatal to undead. It was an attack that could deal deadly damage to One's weak points, thanks to the Sword God.
Goooon!
And the bone staff, deflected into the empty ground, landed with a bang.
The ground shattered with tremendous force, and we were propelled into the air by the towering rocks that had risen as if pushed up.
Simultaneously, One, who had lost his head, collapsed on the spot and turned into sand in a matter of moments. His head bounced high into the sky and disintegrated as if melting into the air.
While landing on the shattered ground, Fran observed this.
「Phew... we won.」
『Yes, we did.』
Had One understood how he had lost in his final moments?
In the moment his head was severed, he had a joyful expression on his face, as if he had met a worthy opponent at the end.
Even if he was an undead—or rather, precisely because he was undead—he couldn't let go of the pride of a warrior. And perhaps, being slain by the Sword God, he died in satisfaction.
Fran, on the other hand, seemed a bit regretful.
（We had to use Sword God Transformation again.）
『The opponent was strong. It couldn't be helped.』
（Hmm...）
Perhaps it was because One was strong as a warrior that Fran wanted to win with their own power alone.
Even though Sword God Transformation was also Fran's skill, it seemed that she couldn't consider it her own power. Well, it was almost like it operated on its own.
Because the opponent was strong, the desire to win without relying on the power of a god seemed to be strong.
『Anyway, the battle isn't over yet. Let's save our reflection for later.』
「Nn.」
Around the time Fran and the others achieved victory almost simultaneously, Urushi's battle had reached a critical point.
「Grrr!」
「Stop it!」
「Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp—」
「Are you trying to eat me...? You monster!」
「Woof!」
Urushi was chewing on the bitten-off fragments of Al-Ajif. He was using his Predatory Assimilation Skill to absorb their power. And he seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit.
Was it like chewing on a tough dog chew toy?
The weakened Al-Ajif didn't have good compatibility with Urushi.
Her metallic body couldn't withstand Urushi's fangs, and her humanoid form as an undead couldn't inflict damage on Urushi. Her poison and necromantic magic had weak effects, and even if she was cut, she regenerated quickly.
The irrationality we felt from One is now reflected in Al-Ajif.
「Woof woof!」
「Don't look at me with those eyes!」
Or rather, those were eyes fixed on a snack.
「In a place like this...! Until I make those incompetent fools who treated us as failures realize, I won't lose!」
Al-Ajif shouted like that and rushed towards Urushi as if she had given up.
However, that was only her humanoid form. Her main body, the large sickle, was trying to flee.
Urushi prepared to chase after the main body, but the humanoid form blocked his path.
「Aaaargh!」
「Wha-what?」
The humanoid form swelled up like a balloon. It wasn't just the physical body. The magical power inside of her suddenly increased and overflowed outward.
From the stitched-up parts of her body, her flesh tore apart, and the bright red magical power that leaked out burst into a flash.
Following that, a roar and a shockwave struck the surroundings. Flames and black smoke nearly 20 meters high rose, and the shockwave mowed down everything around it. It was an attack with the power of a high-level Flame Magic.
If we had been hit directly, we wouldn't have gotten away unscathed. It was their specialty, the undead's self-destruct attack.
However, Al-Ajif's humanoid form seemed to be specially made, as its power was far greater than the zombie self-destruction demonstrated by Two. It was different from Three's self-destruction that scattered poison and acid. Without any special effects like poison or acid, it seemed that all the energy was poured into the explosion.
Naturally, Urushi, who was right near the epicenter, wouldn't escape unharmed. Jean and Kune, who were worried about Urushi, and Al-Ajif, who was rushing away, probably thought the same.
「Fran-kun! Urushi-kun is...!」
「That giant wolf is in trouble!」
「Shi-shi-shi-shi-shi! I did it! Stupid mutt!」
However, neither Fran nor I were panicking. In fact, we felt a sense of satisfaction.
「It's okay.」
After Fran muttered that with a triumphant expression, Al-Ajif screamed.
「Ugaaaaaah!」
「GaLulu!」
Urushi burst out of the black smoke, having broken the large sickle.
「The giant wolf is safe!」
「Urushi would never lose to an attack like that.」
Fran said as a matter of course, but it was surprisingly close, wasn't it? Even if it was Urushi, it wouldn't be strange if he had died instantly if he had taken that explosion without any preparation.
If it had hit, that is.
Urushi was enveloped in something like a black aura all over his body.
It was high-level Dark Magic, Dark Embrace. A strengthening-type spell that covered the entire body with a dark aura to enhance defense and physical abilities, but Urushi was currently using it as armor. Originally, it only covered part of the torso, face, and limbs, but it was now able to cover everything from the tips of the toes to the tail perfectly.
Thanks to his training, Urushi had become able to control Dark Magic perfectly, making this powerful defensive method possible.
Moreover, the dark aura changed shape in an instant and gathered around Urushi's head.
「G-Lulu Lulu Ru!」
「Darn it! We couldn't complete our mission, and again, these guys...!」
「Gaaaaaaaah!」
「St-stop!」
Gagiiiiin!
Before Al-Ajif could shout anything, Urushi's gigantic jaws, maximized in size, crushed her monstrous blade.
It was Urushi's ultimate move, "Dankai no Kiba," which enhanced his attack power by concentrating Dark Embrace on his head.
The magical weapon, which should have boasted considerable hardness, crumbled like candy.
Al-Ajif's presence completely disappeared. There was no sign of her teleporting.
（We won.）
『Yeah. It's our victory.』
「Om om.」
Urushi was happily crunching Al-Ajif's remains inside his mouth.
Normally, I would think his mouth would be covered in blood, but Urushi, who had grown taller than the trees in the forest, was chewing the remains of the large sickle with a pleased expression. It seemed like he was enjoying it as a snack.
「De-deka wolf got even bigger, nya! Super deka wolf, nya!」
「Oh! Urushi-kun has become so much bigger! He's stronger, it's wonderful! How about it? If you become one of my undead, you might become even stronger?」
「Hey, giant wolf! If you come with us, I'll treat you to a feast of catnip!」
「If you become my follower, I'll prepare a specially made coffin for you!」
「...Kun.」
Stop trying to recruit Urushi! Jean's pitch doesn't seem like a recruitment either.
But Kune and Jean seem surprisingly energetic despite the fierce battle! I think they must be quite tired, but they still seem capable of moving.
Fran is probably the most tired, right? One was the strongest after all. Well, if I said that, Kune and Jean would probably argue, so I won't! But Fran worked the hardest!
「Oh, by the way, you there, the demon tribe! We're saved, nya! Thank you very much, nya!」
「Fufufufu! No need to thank us! We have to help each other in times of trouble, after all!」
「Even though you're such a weirdo, you're a really nice person, nya! People can't judge a book by its cover, nya! Even though you look like you're definitely doing inhumane experiments!」
「Fufufufufu! I get embarrassed when praised!」
「I didn't praise you, nya! You're nice, but still weird, nya!」
I don't know if their compatibility is good or bad. Anyway, when these two are together, they're super noisy. Laughter and nyaing echo back and forth.
「Come to think of it, who are you? You suddenly appeared, nya!」
「Fufufufu! Very well! I will tell you if you really want to know!」
「N-no, it's not like I really want to know, nya.」
「No need to hold back!」
「I said I don't want to know, nya!」
「My name is Jean Duvie! A seeker of the abyss and the underworld, who has gazed into the depths of death!」
「He's not listening to people, nya!」
As expected, they're noisy. They're a dangerous pair in various ways when mixed together.
「Now then, the young lady who's been making good retorts all this time, who are you and where are you from?」
「I'm Kune, nya! A traveling trainee, nya!」
「Kune-kun, huh? That's a nice name.」
「Oh! This name is the name my master gave me, nya! This guy may be strange, but he's someone who understands this sense, nya!」
Kune's expression changed from suspicion towards Jean to a cheerful one when she received compliments for her name. She's quite quick to change her mood!
It seems Kune is an easy-going person, all thanks to her gratitude towards her current master. She seems genuinely happy.
Well, Jean tends to praise almost any name, including mine. No, it's not that he finds the name "Master" strange! Fran gave me a wonderful name! It's just that some people didn't appreciate that sense of naming!
（Master, why are you trembling?）
『It's, it's nothing. I just thought Jean and Kune were being loud.』
（Both of them have loud voices.）
Fran seemed to share my sentiment.
Anyway, since we had the opportunity to meet Jean, let's get our purpose across.
「Jean, I have something important to tell you.」
「Is it about the message regarding the assassin?」
「Yeah.」
The information about Nameless that we sent to Jean through the Adventurer's Guild seems to have reached him safely. However, we didn't convey all the information from scratch. This time, the reason we were looking for Jean was to directly inform him about Nameless's information.
Nevertheless, it's not the kind of thing we should discuss at length with Kune present.
「I'll tell you more later.」
「That would be appreciated! I wasn't able to obtain the desired subject in this exploration!」
「What were you aiming for?」
「A cockatrice! There have been sightings in this demon realm. Well, I couldn't find any.」
The ecosystem in this demon realm has been disrupted in recent days, so it might not be possible to find it as per the information.
「Although it was a different target, I thought I had a chance to obtain good material in the end... It's a pity that it disappeared.」
「Really, it disappeared?」
Fran reacted to Jean's words.
Since it's an undead weapon, there's a chance it could be revived even if only fragments remained. Right now, we don't sense its presence, but it's better to be cautious.
However, Al-Ajif seems to have survived in a sense, but not in the way I imagined.
〈In this battlefield, the entity has indeed disappeared. However, based on the memory of the temporary 'Master' from over there, there are multiple Al-Ajifs.〉
『Really?』
〈Yes. At least three have been confirmed.〉
Since they are creations of necromancy, it's not unusual for there to be multiple copies.
『Where did the 'me from over there' fight Al-Ajif?』
〈Based on the memory, 82% of the experiences flowed in the Belioth Kingdom, especially around Lake Vivian.〉
I was quite confused at the time and didn't understand much, but apparently, many memories were related to the lake. Well, the fact that I approached the lake was the catalyst, so it's only natural.
The remaining memories were related to the Kranzel Kingdom, with some mixed memories related to Zelyse.
『So, in that world, were Kune and Al-Ajif at Lake Vivian?』
〈Yes, however, there are many memories of battles, and the reasons why individuals like Kune were active around Lake Vivian are unclear.〉
Regarding Kune, it seems she was on a warrior's journey. Depending on the world, the actions of Fran and me might have had various consequences. It's like the butterfly effect. As a result, it wouldn't be strange for Kune to get involved in the Lake Vivian incident, for example.
『So, you fought Kune?』
〈Yes, but it wasn't a serious battle.〉
『Something like a mock battle?』
That's plausible. In situations like this, where combat enthusiasts meet, any encounter can easily turn into a battle. In fact, I couldn't imagine a future where Fran and Kune, who are both battle enthusiasts, meet without fighting.
As for Al-Ajif, it's simpler than Kune. After all, she belongs to the Black Skeletal Legion of the Raydoss Kingdom. Even if she was with Nameless in that place, it wouldn't be surprising.
『So, there's a possibility that the remaining Al-Ajifs are around here?』
〈Yes.〉
Al-Ajif seems to have caused a commotion here, posing as a Black Cat Tribe member to lure Fran. She appeared to be after the letter handed over in the Belioth Kingdom. Raydoss's spies seem to have infiltrated the Kranzel Kingdom in large numbers as well, and they probably have informants in the Belioth Kingdom too.
Depending on the priority of the letter, if they were determined to obtain it at all costs, there was a high possibility that other forces were lurking.
It seems there's no time to rest leisurely.
Fighting Al-Ajif continuously in the current state is dangerous, so we need to escape as soon as possible.
『Jean, there's a possibility that another Undead Weapon like that scythe is nearby! It's better to move from here immediately!』
（Oh? Very well, just wait a moment.）
After hearing my words, Jean smiled gleefully and clenched the skull pendant he had hanging around his neck. He closed his eyes for a moment as if meditating, and then a faint magical energy emanated from Jean.
It had a subtle presence and no aggressive power. Most likely, most magical beasts wouldn't even notice the presence of magic. Nevertheless, it was clear that it spread over a wide area.
「Well, at the very least, that Undead Weapon shouldn't exist within this demon realm anymore.」
「You can tell from that?」
「Yes, I can. It's a unique ability that only Undead who remember my magical wavelength possess. We were just fighting until a moment ago; there's no way they could forget.」
〈Announcer-san agrees with Jean regarding this matter as well. After detecting it, there were no signs of similar entities.〉
『Announcer-san can detect them too?』
I know that Announcer-san can partially use my abilities, but is there a significant difference when I use them compared to when Announcer-san does? Previously, Announcer-san was overwhelmingly better in terms of magic manipulation and control, so I understand that. However, now that I've become stronger through training, I don't think there should be a significant gap in detection abilities...
〈Some parts of the individual named Al-Ajif appear to use remnants of the discarded divine sword 'Fanatics.' Due to their cannibalism skill, they incorporate magic power and remember its wavelength. It can be detected by Announcer-san.〉
『Huh? Fanatics?』
〈Yes. The individual named Al-Ajif was created by piecing together remnants of several discarded divine swords.〉
Seriously? Well, now that you mention it, Al-Ajif's way of speaking and laughing did resemble Fanatics! Even the shifting pronouns were the same as Fanatics.
『Is that safe, though? Won't something like what happened in Kranzel's capital happen again?』
〈I cannot answer that. However, it seems that Al-Ajif's power as Fanatics has been lost. It is limited to bestowing some skills on her subordinates.〉
『So, they strengthened the patchwork?』
If that's the case, it seems we can avoid the worst-case scenario where an invincible undead army appears equipped with multiple Al-Ajifs.
Jean and Announcer-san are saying that there's no sign of Al-Ajif lurking here. So, should we take it easy for now?
Now, let's address the second purpose, or rather, the last issue we can't ignore.
「What will Kune do from here?」
「Hmm? Of course, I'll continue my training! I'll travel the world and fight strong opponents!」
「Oh, that sounds like fun.」
「Yeah! It's super fun nya!」
No, no, that's not what I'm asking! Fran, don't look so excited!
Fran must have remembered the meaning of her question shortly afterward.
「Will you continue your training here?」
「Nope. I'm tired, so I'm heading back for today.」
「And tomorrow?」
「Of course, I'll train here tomorrow!」
It seems this catgirl still doesn't quite grasp that she's an intruder. Well, maybe she's deliberately ignoring it?
「This place is managed by the Adventurer's Guild. You're not allowed to go too far in.」
「I don't know. I'm not an adventurer, so I don't care!」
She really isn't an adventurer, then.
Fran furrows her brow, looking vexed. It's not so much annoyance as it is her trying to figure out how to explain things so that Kune will understand.
Then, Jean, who had been listening to the conversation, suddenly chimed in.
「I suppose Kune-kun might have unlawfully trespassed into restricted areas?」
「That's right.」
「I didn't do it! I don't know the Guild's rules!」
Kune seems to have her own thoughts about the Adventurer's Guild. It's not hostility, but she appears stubborn and determined to ignore the Guild. Trying to persuade her by using the Guild's name doesn't seem like a wise move.
Jean, it seems, decided to approach persuasion from a different angle.
「The demon realm, in essence, is considered property of the nation. It's just that the Adventurer's Guild is entrusted with its management. Therefore, these rules apply not only to adventurers but to all individuals within the country. It's the nation's law. If you violate it, you'll naturally be subject to the nation's punishment.」
「The nation? Huh? The Adventurer's Guild is connected to the nation? And I'd be subject to punishment?」
「It stands to reason.」
「I thought I'd just get scolded a bit by the Guild!」
「In this case, it won't be that simple. If you were to flee, information would circulate to adventurer guilds worldwide, and you'd become a wanted criminal. It's called an international manhunt!」
People like Zelyse are likely subjected to this.
「Nya! I can't become a criminal! My Master would be mad at me! And, worldwide? Is the Adventurer's Guild such a big deal?」
It seems Kune had absolutely no understanding of the Adventurer's Guild. Her perception was probably akin to that of an organization that gathers delinquents to help each other out.
「The Adventurer's Guild exists worldwide?」
「...」
「...」
Fran and Jean are utterly astonished by Kune's lack of common knowledge. I mean, how sheltered can you get when even Fran, who grew up with a unique background, knew about the Guild? Her understanding was limited to it being a large organization with adventurers from all around the world. With knowledge this basic, one has to wonder about Kune's upbringing.
While it's true that she was originally a slave, she's now working under a respectable Master, right? Fran and Jean are both giving her suspicious looks.
Then, it seems something else piqued Fran's curiosity.
「Kune, do you know how to evolve?」
「Nya! I don't know!」
As a matter of fact, Kune hadn't reached the point of evolution yet. Even though her level had maxed out, she likely hadn't fulfilled the conditions for evolution. Given her current strength, that makes her a real prodigy.
「I was actually curious about that. Fran, are you, by any chance, evolved?」
Now that I think about it, I had left the Evolution Concealment skill on.
I deactivated the Evolution Concealment skill, and Kune displayed a dramatic change.
「Nya-nya! You're evolved! Is this for real? Wow! H-how are you doing this? I-I'll do anything as payment! If you want me to lick your feet, I'll do it! I'll lick them all you want! So please teach me!」
Hey! Stop groveling! You don't have to prepare to lick someone's feet!
Anyway, this confirmed that Kune not only knew nothing about the Adventurer's Guild but also had no connection to it.
If she were a Black Cat Tribe adventurer, she should have been able to receive information from the Guild easily.
「You can find out by going to the Adventurer's Guild.」
「I-I see! The Adventurer's Guild is amazing!」
「The first one in the world to obtain that information was Fran-kun. She proved that she could evolve by herself and spread the information to adventurers and the nation.」
「Nya! Fran is amazing!」
「Hehe.」
Kune praised Fran with an overly smug expression, but Jean still regarded her with a suspicious eye.
Kune must have realized that her background was being questioned. In a fluster, she began to make excuses.
「Nya, I'm a little tired now. Besides, it seems this demon realm isn't suited for me, so I won't come back! Farewell!」
Kune swiftly flipped herself in a manner she hadn't shown during the battle and ran off into the trees.
「Oh...」
Neither Fran nor Jean pursued her. Despite having the numerical advantage, they were exhausted from the intense battle. They couldn't confidently say they would win if another fight broke out with Kune.
Moreover, having fought alongside her, they were sure that Kune harbored no ill will or hostility. She seemed like a combat-loving but naive Black Cat Tribe member, neither more nor less.
「Fran-kun, you don't know anything about her background, do you?」
「Nn. We just met earlier.」
「Hmm... well, we should report her to the adventurer's guild. If we leave her be, there might be others who mistake her for you.」
「Nn...」
Fran felt regretful that she couldn't directly share information about evolution with Kune. Well, the conditions for evolution were already widely known, and if she really wanted, she could probably find someone to explain it to her at a local tavern. She could figure it out herself.
『In fact, some people have mistaken the Black Cat Tribe for Al-Ajif.』
「Oh? Not Kune-kun?」
『Kune just arrived in this demon realm today.』
They discussed the recent sightings of mysterious Black Cat Tribe members, suspected to be Fran, along with the revelation that Al-Ajif was the source of these rumors.
『That guy pretended to be a Black Cat Tribe member on purpose and caused a ruckus.』
「Hahaha! I see! From a distance, they might look like Black Cat Tribe members indeed! Using illusion magic would make it certain!」
『It's not something to laugh about.』
「Sorry, sorry. Well then, let's go back together and testify. That there were suspicious individuals aside from Fran-kun.」
『Oh, really? That would be a big help!』
Jean, despite acting like this, was a high-ranking B-rank adventurer. His testimony carried strong credibility. If he testified that Fran was innocent, there would be no more suspicions.
「Jean, thank you.」
「No problem. But I'll have to hear about this 'Nameless' too.」
「Feel free to ask anything.」
「All right! Then, tell me everything about this and that!」
『I won't talk about just anything, though.』
「Hahaha!」
He's a good guy, but I wish he wouldn't overdo it!
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